Himalayan Daily Ramblings

Ruling parties review Birgunj blast

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 31 Jan: Ruling seven parties Thursday morning began a review of the Birgunj blasts the previous day that injured nearly six dozen participants at a joint rally of the rulers to canvass support for a republic in the 10 April controversial constituent assembly that looks increasingly uncertain.
Chairman Prachanda is chairing the meeting.
More than 30 suspects have been arrested for questioning.
The seven rallies of the SPA began with blasts in the capital and ended dramatically with explosions in Birgunj.
The explosions came one day after Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala desperately assured he would meet any terai demand if groups only agreed to participate in elections.
Koirala also swore by God to conduct elections.
Koirala said he would meet any demand even as a party team led by trusted aide Dr Ram Baran Yadav rejected demands like self-determination cannot be accepted.
Koirala addressed people in Madesh is lowly language calling them ‘timi’ instead of ‘tapai’.
“This is only a typical example of his feudal Brahmin approach and how he has been treating people in the terai where he has been living for so many years,” a politician who preferred anonymity said. ‘Even Ranas didn’t behave in that fashion.”
Its is too early to assess the impact of the blasts; but it will be difficult for the government to conduct elections despite the bravado of home minister Krishna Prasad Shitaula who said the vote will be held and blamed ‘rajabadis’.
This is not the first time he has made such an allegation.
The blasts went off although the meeting was held behind a security cordon provided by 3,000 policemen; Shitula has cleared to provide security with the such heavy deployment of police.
A delegation of India’s Congress (I) is visiting Nepal from 12 to 14 February to assist the embattled Koirala government; the high-powered delegation is to be led by Digvijaya Singh, the secretary general of Sonia Gandhi’s party and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister.
The delegation is coming at Koirala’s invitation.
The visit is timed with opposition BJP’s scathing criticism of Indian government’s policy accusing New Delhi government of surrendering national interests to the communists who dominate the coalition government.
BJP, waiting to form a government in New Delhi, has supported monarchy and has come out against a republic openly supported by Sonia Gandhi’s party.
US Ambassador to Nepal Nancy J Powell was in New Delhi discussing coordination of US India Nepal police when the blasts went off in Birgunj.
Powell reportedly said in New Delhi US wanted that the Maoists did not dominate Nepal politics, The Himalayan Times reported.
Did New Delhi agree?
India pushed Maoists into mainstream politics but it is reportedly concerned now.
Maoists now consider India and USA as their top enemies.
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Govt. renews and extends deployment of police

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 31 Jan: Government has decided enforce special police security in the additional districts of Khotang, Sanhkhuwasabha, Udappur and Bhojpur in the eastern hills.
Supporters of the Khumbuwan Mukti Morcha, also calling for autonomy, attacked three police outposts and decamped with arms, ammunition and police uniforms this month.
The government also decided to extend the two-month special police deployment in three districts of the Valley and eight terai districts in central and east terai that ended Monday.
Special police security deployment now covers 15 of the country’s 75 districts.
Madesh groups have opposed the police deployment.
The extension and renewal indicate the security situation has deteriorated in the last two months.
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King calls for reinforcement relationship between democracy and monarchy

By Bhola B Rana.

Kathmandu, 31 Jan: Even as the monarchy is being put to a vote in the 10 April controversial and unlikely 10 April constituent assembly election, King Gyanendra has called for the reinforcement of relationship between monarchy and democracy which is presently weakened.
“Democracy has been weakened; that’s why the relationship between monarchy and democracy should be reinforced and pushed,” he told Hari Lamsal, editor of Rashtra-vani Wednesday, in a 90-minute interview.
The interview was the first after the regime collapse in April 2006.
The King admitted his direct rule introduced 1 February 2005 failed.
“The people and nation are suffering its failure now,” he said.
“We weren’t happy with Maoist methods; that’s why we went for a peace process according to the demands of the people,”
Translation of the interview printed in the weekly newspaper:
“We have remained quiet to make the peace process a success after the peace agreement. The Nepalese people have to speak and say what the country is confronting and the conditions it is being dragged into and why the pandemonium.
“Monarchy has encountered man such moments in history; they have come and gone. Nepali monarchy runs on the desire of the Nepali people and is heading towards that direction,” the King told Lamsal.
“I’ve listened and it’s not that I’m not unaware. People also aren’t in a position to speak for various reasons. In the name of democratic practices, I fell it’s not proper and democratic to smash he country’s physical structures. Nobody at any time should take people for granted,” the King said in reply to a question why he was silent for nearly one year.
“Let peace and democracy prevail; patriotism should gain roots; the political system should be the choice of the Nepali people.” he said.” It should be suited to the Nepali soil. Let a system prevail where Nepalis can be proud. Tackle instability democratically,” the King said.
“Silence is also action. We’ve not only remained silent; those who understand; they have understood; some, I believe, are trying to give an impression they aren’t aware,” the King said explaining his silence.
“Nepali people have their own uniqueness. Monarchy has faith, Can’t only talk of cities; people struggling on the hilltops are equally important,” the King added.
‘Monarchy was there before Nepal’s unification; it’s an older institution. To vilify the builder of the nation is, I feel, an insult to yourself and the nation,” the King said about Prithivi Narayan Shah and monarchy and effort to forget and re-write history. “Instead of blaming others, shouldn’t an effort be made at personal improvement?”
The King added: The Nepali people have to be in the vanguard on how to push monarchy. Nepali heart and mind are deep and broad; they can encompass everybody.
The King talked of the royal takeover and admitted it failed.
‘Monarchy shouldn’t be involved in politics and it’s not interested either,” the King told Lamsal. “Monarchy should mould itself to the wishes of the Nepali people and move forward accordingly.”
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I’ll not go into exile: King

Kathmandu, 31 Jan: Editor Hari Lamsal told the King he was democratic to which the King replied,” People have to speak about me. Nepali people cannot speak right now,” Parsuram Kafle of Naya Patrika reported the King as saying, according quoted Lamsal.
Why asked Lamsal to which the King reportedly said,” I don’t want to go into specifics. But the king is never of usurping power. Let’s not go into details.”
The King was asked on mention of a pubic in the constitution to which he said,” Oh. It’s been written in the constitution. I haven’t even attempted to understand it.”
Lamsal asked the king details of an agreement between the king and parties that culminated in the April regime change.
‘Let us not go into details now. Political parties also know this; I k now it. I’ll speak if developments are not according to that roadmap,” Lamsal quoted the king as saying.
At the end of the interview the king said,” I’ll not go into exile. I’ll stay in this country.”
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Israel ready to hire Nepalis again

Kathmandu, 30 Jan: Nepal may send jobseekers to Israel without involving manpower gents in order to make the recruitment process easier, said Labor Minister Ramesh Lekhak, according to The Kathmandu Post.
“We are ready to accept two options—sending the workers without involving manpower agents or having the agents monitored by the International Organization of Migration (IOM) as Israel has sought its participation in the recruitment process,” he said.
Lekhak added that the government was ready to eliminate the role of manpower agents in selecting job aspirants if Israel reopens the door to Nepali workers.
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